What is Applied Behavioral Analysis?
“ABA is a field of study that is dedicated to improving the human condition by making changes in environmental conditions that are supported by data and which result in socially meaningful improvements.”
What ABA Is And What It Is Not
People use the acronym ABA in many ways so it is sometimes confusing to know exactly what someone means when they say ‘ABA.’ If you are confused about this, you are not alone!
Remember there is both good and bad information on the web. We recommend that you critically and objectively review the information provided on various websites. ABA providers can vary in their approach and philosophy. You will want to think about if services match your family’s philosophy and will fit in with your busy life.
ABA is not simply 20-40 hours a week of one-on-one instruction sitting at a table. Many people think that ABA is a 20-40 hour per week intensive treatment/therapy. ABA does focus on specific skills and the level and intensity of programming should be driven by the child’s needs and families’ priorities and is typically based in play.
ABA is not:
A canned program
A set of “drills”
One size fits all
ABA should be fun for your child and staff and have the goal of integrating new skills into your family’s life at home and in the community.
There is a significant breadth of research that supports this intensive intervention as being highly effective with children and teens diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
For more information got to bacb.com. This is the credentialing and overseeing body for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA’s) and Registered Behavior Analysts across the United States.
United States Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, PhD, has endorsed ABA for individuals with autism:
“Thirty years of research demonstrated the efficacy of applied behavioral methods in reducing inappropriate behavior and in increasing communication, learning, and appropriate social behavior.”